Building construction



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. H. LOCKWOOD BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l Filed March 2, 1927 Nav, 24, 1931.

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BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Nov. 24, 1931i E. YH. cKwooD BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2, 1927 3 Shee'cs-Shee1;v 3

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Patented Nov. 24, 1931 ERNEST LOGKWOOD, 0F PASADENA, CALIFORNIA BUILDIG CONSTRUCTION Application filed March 2,

0 means by which concrete buildings may be Aerected without the use of external forms. This I accomplish by using precast concrete slabs. y

It is a further object of my invention to provide such slabs with means by which they may be secured together to form various types of buildings.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means by which the slabs may be secured together to form composite walls in which the slabs are utilized to form facings between which concrete is cast, the slabs serving as forms for the concrete which in turn locks the slabs into the nished wall. This eliminates the great expense of the wood forms now employed in concrete building construction. The slabs cast by the process described in my copending application may be produced with a great variety of surface characteristics. As a result walls in which these slabs form the outer facing may have a wide variety of texture or color and do not need any sort of exterior treatment to produce a pleasing effect. This is a great sav.- ing` over present methods in which the wall, as cast, plainly shows the joints and imperfections of the wooden forms, thus necessitating some externall finish where a Vgood architectural effect is desired.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means by which the facings of slabs used in a composite wall may be secured together in accurate alignment and also to so construct these aligning means that they may be made to tie to and cooperate with additional reinforcement in the core of the wall.

YThis not only insures an accurate alignment of the slabs, which are of uniform dimensions, thus allowing an extremely accurate wall to be easlly built by relatively unskilled 1927. serial No. 171,998.V

labor, butalso provides means for holding the wall permanently in its initial, accurately placed position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means by which air spaces maybe formed in the concrete as it is cast inplace in the wall. This is necessary lto render the wall a poor conductor of'heat, moisture and sound.

It is a further objectof my invention to provide a wall which is formed of concrete but in which is embedded or secured sheets or strips of insulating material.`

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description and the accompanying drawings in which f Fig. 1 is a plan view of the slab ofjmy invention.

Fig. Q is a side elevation of this slab with the peripherial portion thereof broken away to show the reinforcing of the slab.

f Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the slab.

Fig. 4 isa vertical sectional view taken on the interfacial medial plane of a partition formed by successive courses of slabs placed together edge to edge in break-joint relation.

Fig. 5 isa vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a preferred form of reinforcing wire such as is used in A the manufacture of the slabs. y Y

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of reinforcing wire.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cornposite wall of my invention during the course of its construction.V

Fig. l9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken fromY thevinterior of the wall shown inv Fig. 8 of a juncturepoint be? tween three slabs, making utp the facings :of one side of the Wall.

10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 10--10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of the insulating members employed in my invention and showing a metal key disposed in an opening in this insulation member.

Fig. 12is a perspective view of the tie memberemployed to. space the opposite facing y of composite wall.

y 4or asimilar vmaterial be The slab Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and l3, 10 indicates 'the building slab .used by me, this slab comprising .a thin, rectangular 'body-'11, which contains reinforcing members 12 which are :cast .in the body .11. JElhe body 11, as well understood, may be formed of any sementi* y tions material which will set to assume a fixed shape. It is preferable 'thatplasftic concrete used in forming the body 11 so that whenthis material .sets it will have a. lit-hold nature .so as to possess the maximum 'qualities of endurance when eX- posed to the elements. The reinforcing members V1'2 .are disposed withinthe .body 11 shown in the drawings. These members 12 are preferably bent fnom astrong :steel wire so .as to have central portions 13 which are disposed just with-- nthebody 11 from i pper and lower edges 14 of the slab 10. Each 1reinforcing member 12 is bent outwardly at the opposite ends of the portions 13 .and then looped back upon litself to formA tongues 15 and .reinforcing portions .16; The slabs 1z0 ane so cast 'that the tongues V15 project outwardly from the ends of the edges 14 .and'so that the end reinforcing por.- tions 16 lie just within the body 11 from the side edges 17 of the slab 10. The end reinforcing portions 1'6 of the reinforcing members 12 may be of the length :shown in Fig. or else they maybe .longer :so as to overlap :each other throughout la greater part -of their length so as to provide a double reinforcing in the .body .1l just the side edges v17 lthereof..

Apertures 18 are centrally vformed inthe slab body 11 in the upper and lower edges 14 thereof. The apertures 18 are of substantially the same transverse dimension as the gauge of the wire reinforcing member 12, and are slightly longer than 'the sum of twice the width of a tongue 15 and twice the distance from t'he edge '17 at which the tongues 15 are disposed in the slabbody '11. It will be noted in fFig. llth-a't the central portion 13 of each reinforcing member 12 deviates from a straight line between lthe tongues 15 to pass :around an aperture 118. In the vmanufacture of the slabs 10 a falce 2() thereof may be formed :of such material and texture as to be suitable for asurlalce facing of a wall. Moreover, in case it is desired to plaster a wall surface which may be formed by a plurality of slabs 10 as hereinafter described, the face 20 will be roughened in the manufacture of the slab 10 by partially embedding gravel or broken rock in the main body of the slab on the face 20 thereof.

lllewcl of erecting paf/tations The apertures 18 and the tongues- 15 in each osed upon the interfacial axial plane of that slab. This is of vital importance to the present invention inasmuch as it makes possible an easy assembling of the slabs to form a perfectly aligned wall facing member or a partition 25 as shown in Fig. 4, of the thickness of the Single sla-b. SuchV partitions being the simplest form of wall, themethod used in their erection will be described.

A first course 26 of slabs is properly aligned upon a floor or foundation 27 having aligned apertures 28 into which the tong-ues 15, projecting downwardly from the lowermost course Yof .slabs 26, are allowed to enter and be retained by mortar as shown.;Y .After the first .course 26 .of `slabs 1.0 has thus been laid in true alignment with each other, a second course 29 of slabs 1.0 .is lai-d edge to edge with the .top of the first .course 26, and in break-joint :relation therewith .so that the tongues 15 of the second course l2;,9 projecting downwardly therefrom, enter the apertures 18 of the lower course 26. Likewise the tongues 15 projecting upwardly from the course .26, enter the .apertures 18 fon the lower edge 14 of .the `course 29 .of slabs 10. This interlocking cf adjacent courses of slabs course of slabs 26., are lallowed .to enter and causes adjacent courses to .assume .a position of Ilongitudinal alignment with each other in which the interfacial .medial planes of all the slabs liein the .single interfacial plane of the entire partition .25.. A 'course of .slabs 30 maylikewise then be .formed tol interlock with .the upper edge of the course 29 and in this manner the partition 2.5 may be built up to Vany desired Vheight so long as the partition 25v is supported at its ends to prevent buckling ona horizontal line between .some adjacent pairof the Kcourses of slabs used in its construction.. While the slabs 10 are .thus being erected in courses to form .a partition 25 which it is desired to sta-nd alone after in-y ished, laI motar 30a is placed between the adjacent edges of the slabs so as to adhere to these edges and so as to lill the apertures .18 and rigidly secure the tongues l5 in these vapertures.

' The reinforcing' wire 31 shown in Fig. 7 is a modified form .of the reinforcing member 12, as shown in F 8, Land differs therefrom in the provision of wa-W portions 32 in the central portion Y33 ofthe reinforcing wire, the

reinforcing lwire 31 being otherwise identical geously by Composite wall construction.

In addition to being adapted to form partitions my slabs lend themselves readily to composite wall construction.A In the fab-ricationV of a composite wall 35, as shown in Fig. 8, a. -pair of wall facings 36 and 37 are erected in .such a manner as to be held in a fixed spaced relation to each other. The facings 36 and 37 when thus erected have their finished surfaces disposed to the exterior to provide finished faces upon the composite wall to be formed.

` In the formation of the facings 36and 37 the Yslabs l0 are assembled in break-j oint relation in a manner similar to that in which the partion 25 was formed. Likewise, opposite courses of slabs on the same level in the facings 36 andV 37 are disposed in breakjoint relation 'relative to each other. However, no mortar is placed between the slabs 10 at the time of the erection of the facings 36 and 37. The facings 36 and 37 are held in fixed spaced relation by composite tie members 40, as will be hereinafter described.

The tie members 4() comprise a central wire connecting element 41 which is adapted to be attached Vat its ends to end plates 42. The element 41 has arcuated bends 43v formed at its outer ends which terminate in portions'44 aligned with the central portion of the element, the portions 44 terminating in downward bent portions 46.- The ends 47 of the connecting element 41 are bent in opposite directions perpendicularly from the portions 46.

The construction of the end plates 42 is clearly shown in the perspective view of Fig. 12. These end plates are stamped from sheet metal so as to have a flat body portion 48 having corrugations 49 at its opposite sides. From the outer portions of the edges of the corrugations 49 extend pairs of arms 50, a slot 51 being formed between each pair of arms 50. A hole 52 is formed near the inner end of the body portion 48 of suiiicient size to slip over an end 47 of the connecting element 41. The inner edge ofthe body 48 is reinforced by an anchor lip 53 bent down'- wardly therefrom.

In the assembly of the tie member 40, the parts thereof are positioned as shown by the full lines in Fig. 12 in which, as is clear, the end plates 42 are disposed in vertical position. The end plates are then moved so that the holes 52 receive the connecting element wire ends 47 and the ends 47 have passed entirely through the holes 52 so that the end plates 42 can be rotated into horizontal position with the connecting element portions 46 disposed in the holes 52.' It is-now clear` that before t-he tie member 40 can be disassembled, one or the other of the plates 42 must be moved out-of horizontalinto vertical position. This is an important Vfeature as will presently be seen. l v

After the bottom courses of slabs 10 vin the facings 36 and 37 are assembled andV properly aligned with each other, thetie members 40 are assembled as just described, and placed with the end plates 42 resting upon the upper edges of these first courses of slabs in the manner shown m Fig.'8. As shown, an end plate 42 at one end of each tieV member is disposed :,f

between and embraces the tongues 15 extending upwardly from an adjacent pair of slabs in one of the bottom courses above mentioned. The end plate at `the opposite end ofthe tie member rests upon the central portion of the upper edge of a slab in the opposite facing Y so that the slots 51 are disposed, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, over opposite ends of the upper aperture 18 of that slab. By virtue of the assembling of slabs of eachfacing 36 and 37 in break-joint relation, each end plate thus` placedover an'adjacent pairfof tongues 15 will be retained in place by the central portion of the lower edge of a slab in the next course,

being fitted downwardly thereover so that the aperture V18 thereof receives the tongues 15 about which this end plate 42 had been placed. In a similar manner each end `plate 42 which has been placed over a mouth l8- will be retained in place bythe tongues of adjacent slabs in the next higher course which will be extended downwardly into that aperture 18. In this manner, aseach successive pair of courses of slabs' are built up in the erection of the facing sheets 36 and 37, the tie members 40 placed to rest on top of the pre vious coursesA of slabs in these facing sheets are rigidly held in place and prevented from being disassembled because of both the end plates 42 of each tie member 40 being held rigidly in horizontal position. The erection of each wall 35 is begunat a corner `of the building, where the true vertical alignment of the facing members is determined by the corner construction as will hereinafter -be pointed out. Between the corners, the facing members 36 and 37 are maintained in true vertical alignment by scaffolding studs 52 which are braced in vertical position from the ground and lie against a facing as shown. Bolts 53 are passed through holes in each stud 52 and, extending between successive courses of slabs 10, are threaded into nuts 54 so as to rigidly secure the slabs 10 to the studs 52. 4. f

' As the facings 36 and 37 .are thus erected it is desired to correctly position pairs of. vertical reinforcing rods 55 at various intervals throughout the length of the wall 35. This positioning of the reinforcing rods55 is made first facings .316 and 37 arev erected a few 'Sie icouznses of .stabs in height,the rods are :thrust :downwardly in interwoven relation 'with each vertical seriesof connecting elements 41 :so that the .arcuate portions 43 thereof receive .and correctly position the reinforcing rods 4521s clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 13. 1111s shown in Fig. 9, the corrugations 49 in the end plates 42 provide a means for uniformly `spacing .-successive'fhorizontal courses of slabs in .each of the facings 36 and '37 from Aeach other.

v Formation of aar spaces When fthe facings 36 and 37 have been builty n p ito a height of three or four slabs, it 'is de-V sired to .pour `the interior space 56 between the faoings fand 37 full of plastic concrete. It is zalso desired to have air spaces 57, as .shownin Fig. '14, provided'i-n this concrete .betweeneachsuccessive pair of verticalseries of tie naenibers4'0.. For the purpose of formthese .air spaces 57, an air space form 60 is provided. VThe form 60 may be of any convenient construction; .that is, :any form that can be readily withdrawn after the concrete has set, thus leaving air spaces 57 between t'hc Walls formed Vof the members 40.

Insulation, ofwaZZ .As 'shown Figs. 8 and 14. the formation of these air spaces leaves webs 112 of concrete which would normally be continuous between facings 36 and 37. It is very desirable not to have a continuous mass of concrete connecting the outer and inner facings 36 and $37 of the composite wall of my invention when this wall is desired to be used for the `outer wallV of :a building. It is therefore an important feature of my invention to provide -a means for parting the webs 112 medially so that there will be no continuous massof concrete communicating between op- .posit-e faces of the wall 35. This division ofthe webs 112 is Veffect-ed by the positioning of verticalfstrips 113 of suitable insulating materiaflbetween Iadjacent edges of each adjacent pair 'of forms 60. The strips 113 have slots114 at :suitable levelsto receive the connecting elements 41 of the tie members 40.

VllVhen itis desired to utilize the insulation strips 113, the forks 91 are swung into an outward position so as to lengage opposite edges of the strip 113 'and retain this strip in its correct position. In order to insure that the portions of the vwebs 112 'on opposite sidesV of fthe 113 :be securely united together treme weather against relativemovement, keysV 120. which preferably h'aveV serrated edges 121 are adapted to be positioned in holes 122 provided at suitable levelsv in the'strips 113.

The keys v120 may bel recessed centrally atl same length as the height of the y.

:drawn upward to prepare for an additional 'pouring of concrete, the forks 91 slide freely upon the edges of the strips 113, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. v f y "In Fig. '14 the near end of a wall 35 which has been poured completely up to its top 130 is broken away upon a vertical plane in whichv keys are shown cast into oppo-` site portions of anV insulation divided' web 112. It will beseen that in this same plane a pair ofvertical reinforcing rods A55, as well as a vertical series of'connecting elements 41, Y

are disposed for'the reinforcing of the web 112. The wall 35, after its completion as shown in Fig. 14, may ,bel further insulated Eby the introduction ofsheets of insulating material 132 into the air spaces 57 to divide these air spaces upon Vthe longitudinal axis of thewall 35 into a pair of 'air spaces 133. Incase the air spaces 133 are sealed' at top and bottom so that they are vwhat is usually T00.

termed dead air spaces, the insulating sheets 132 thereby greatly increase the resistance of the wall 35 to the passage of heat therethrough- A wall is thus 'economically produced which satisfies allv of the requirements for a perfect exterior wall of a building. lThe slabs l10 not only provide a beautiful exterior nish which has been economically applied in the process of their manufacture, but these slabs are unusually strong due to their r-e-` inforcement and in addition to this may be erected at a comparatively low fco'st.. Moreover, the insulating feature of the wall 35 entirely prevents the communication of eX- conditions outside of the building. to the rooms on the interior thereof.

ino

Due to this fact the condensation or sweating of the inner faces of exterior walls formed of concrete will be entirely elim inat'ed. Therefore any desired finish other than the manufacturedy finish applied to the slabsr 10, may be applied directly vto the in terior face vof the wall 35fwithout danger of this finish being damaged by condensation.

The material of which the insulating strips 113 and the sheets 132 are formed may 'be any preferred heat, or moisture, or heat and moisture insulating substance. The material known to the trade as CelloteX which is formed of ground-up sugar cane from which the sucrose material has been extracted and which has been especially treated to prevent decay thereof, may be used forthis purpose.

Fig. 15 illustrates diagramniatically themanner by which three members 135, 136

and 137 assembled from slabs l() in the same manner as facings 36 and 37, may be held ter sheet 136, this plate having a central body 141 which is extended in opposite directions from a pair of tongue gripping forks 142 so as to engage with connecting elements 143 and 144 in identically the same manner as the end plates 42 engage with the connecting elements 41.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an interlockingV slab of any suitable moldable composition, the combination ofi a rectangular body; tongues protruding from both longitudinal edges near each cor-V ner thereof, respectively; and tongue receiving apertures formed in said edges between said tongues. 4 l n 2. In an interlocking slab of any suitable moldable composition, the combination of: a rectangular body; tongues protruding from both longitudinal edges thereof a xed distance from each of the corners; and tongue receiving apertures formed in said edges between said tongues.

3. In combination: a rectangular slab; and metallic slab interlocking means cast within end portions of each of the longitudinal edges of said slab, there being complementary interlocking means provided in said edges between said metallic means and adapted to interlock with two of said metallic interlocking means on other such slabs when assembled edge to edge in break tion therewith.

4. In combination:

joint relaa rectangular slab;

and tongues cast within said slab and pro-A end portions of each ofthe truding from j longitudinal edges thereof, there being tongue receiving recesses formed in said edges between said tongues, said slab being adapted to be assembled edge to edge in breakjoint relation withl other such slabs so that said tongues of each slab arel received into said recesses of adjacent slabs. f

5. In combination: a rectangular slab; and tongues cast in saidslab and protruding from both longitudinal edges thereof,.there` being tongue receiving recesses also formed in said edges, said slab being adapted to be assemblededge to edge in breakjoint relation with other such slabs so that said tongues of each slab enter recesses of adjacent slabsv Y and rigidly interlock said slabsin a predetermined plane of` alignment.

6. A combination as in claim 5 in which the tongues of' said slab are connected Wit-h reinforcing members cast therein.

7. In combination; a rectangular slab; and` comprising wire loops cast within v said slab and protruding from end portions' tongues of each of the longitudinal edges thereof, there being tongue receiving recesses formed in saidedges between said tongues, said slab being adapted to be assembled edge to edge in breakjoint relation with other such slabs so that said tongues of each slab are received j A into said recesses of adjacent slabs. Y

8. A combination as in claim 7 in which said loops are bent from reinforcing wires extending along longitudinal elges of said slab yand cast therein.

9. In combination :V a molded 'rectangular' slab; and slab interlocking means disposed upon both longitudinal edges thereof, which consist of fixed tongues, one of which is disposed near each slab corner,y and tongue receiving Vrecesses so formed and positioned between said tongues that when a plurality of such slabs are assembled end to. endfin courses and said courses edge to edge in breakjoint relation, ciprocally ,interlocked upon their adjacent edges vby the tongues disposed; upon each of said adjacent edges having been severally inserted into oppositely disposed recesses in the other of said adjacent edges, respectively,

said tongues having a close lateral fit in said j recesses but having' lengthwise allowance for' slab end spacing.

- 10. In combination: a molded rectangular slab; m-etallicv reinforcing members, castl within the slab and strengthening particularly the slab corners; and definitelyl formed and positioned metallic loops formed'upon said members and protruding as tongues from both longitudinal slab edges near the slab corners, respectively, said slab `further having loop 4receiving recesses so definitely forme-d and positioned in both of said longiadjacent courses are re`- :95'

ibo

tudinal edges between said loops, that when a "plurality of such slabs are assembled end toend in courses land said courses edge to edge in breakjoint relation, adjacent courses are reciprocally interlocked upon theiradjacent edges by the. loops disposed -upon each of said adjacent edges having been severally inserted into oppositely disposed recesses in the other of said adjacent courses, respectively, said loops having a closelateral lit in said recesses slab end spacing.:V

V11. In combination: a molded rectangular slab; and fix-ed Vmetal tongues -protruding from both longitudinal slab edges near` the slab corners, there being grooves formed in saidedges between said-tongues so that when a plurality ofV such slabs are assembled end but having lengthwise allowance-'for jof "been severally inserted fio tudinal: edges, ing therefrom,

toen-.d in courses, and said coursesv edge to edge in breakjointA relation, adjacent courses. are reciprocally interlocked upon their adjga-y centedges, the tongues disposed upon each said adjacent edges, respectively, having into the. opposite-ly disposed groove in the other of said adjacent. edges, respectively.

12. In combination: a molded rectangular IQslab; two oppositely disposedmetallic reinf forcing members,l definitely formed' and cast Within saidslab along the longitudinal slab edges, respectively; and tonguesformed by the ends. of saidy members which, having been bent outwardly protrude from both of said l"longitudinal slab edges near each slabI ner, respectively, saidslab further having corelongated recesses one of which is provided in each of said longitudinal. edges between 2Q. the tongues, protruding therefrom, said re- 'cessesfbeing so/,formed land positioned that when a pluralitvoff such slabs are assembled end. to end in rcourses and. said courses` edge to edge vtheir adjacent edges by each pair of tongues of each pair of adjacenty corners upon each of said adjacentl edges, having been inserted in anv oppositelydisposed elongated recess upon the other of said adjgacentedges.

3. combination a molded rectangular slab; definitely formed andl positioned rein.- forcing members cast Within said slab in.

closev Vproximity to the perimeter thereof;V M-*and loops'b'ent upon said reinforcing members so as toi protrude from both longitudinal edges near the slab corners, said slab further having elongated recesses one of which is provided in each of said longi said recesses. being so formed and positioned that when a plurality of such slabs are assembled V end vto end in kcourses and saidY courses edge to edge in 1 5 breakjoint relation,l adiacent courses are re-` ciprocally interlocked upon their adjacent edges by'each pair of loops of each pair of adjacent corners upon each of said adjacent edges respectively, having been inserted` in ,50- an oppositely disposed elongated recess upon the other of said adjacent edges, respectively. v j

1 4.. A. composite r'wall which combines two slab structural members, each formed by an assembly of slabs as defined inclaim 13, said' members serving as Wall facings and, as such, bein ,oppositely` disposed in breakjointr relation vvi'threach` other; and transverse ties which engage oppositely disposed .69 loops in said members and rigidly space said members; and material introduced between said members to permanently maintain said` spacing. f f

15. In a. composite slab member, the com-vH bination of a plurality of interlocking slabs,

in brealrj'oint relation, *adjacentl courses are reciprocall'y interlocked `upon between the loops protrnd` each having va Vrectangular body; spaced tongues protruding from each of the longitudinal edges of said -slab and a tongue receiving aperture formed'V in each of said edges between said tongues said slabs beingrasse'mbled end to end courses and said. coursesy edge relation that adjacent courses are mutually interloclredby the tongues of each of said adjgacent courses Ahaving been inserted in the oppositely disposed apertures of the `other of said adjacent courses, respectively.

16.. In a composite Wall, the combination of: a pair of oppositely disposed wall fac*- ing members each comprising' a composite slab member as described in claim 15; said facing members being held in spaced' parallel relation with each other by transverse ties and concrete poured therebetween `to.

form a composite Wall.

17. In a composite wall, the combination of: a. pair of opposi'tely disposed composite slab members, each as described inclaim 15, the slabs of oppositely disposed courses bcinfg in breakjoint relation with each other;

scribed in claim 15; and also any insulating` member of a composition having less conductivity of' heat or cold than that of said composite slab members, meansbeing providedfor permanently holding all said members in position. 1 y

19.` In. a composite insulated Wall the combination of; a pair oi'oppositely disposed composite slab members, each as Vdescribed in claim 15, said members: beingy hel-dY in. spaced parallel relation transverse ties; structural supporting members of plastic concrete cast between said composite slab members; and material of less heator cold or soundy conductivity, than thaitof said concrete; inserted Within said wa I.

20. A composite wall having in` combina- ,a pair oi to edge in. such breakjoint to each other by,

tion two oppositely disposed-composite slab y 21. In a building constructiomthe combi-f nation of :a plurality of precast rectangular slabs set upedge to edge in breakjoint relaf tion to form a sheet-like member off building ofl slabs; bein-g inV cast between l material; reinforcement members embedded in each of said slabs; and tongues provided upon said reinforcement members to project from edges of said slabs near their corners there being recesses provided centrally in edges of said slabs to receive said tongues of certain adjacent slabs.

22. In a building construction, the combination of: a plurality of precast slabs set up'4 edge to edge in breakjoint relation to form a sheet-like member of building material; reinforcement members embedded in peripheral portions of said slabs; and tongues, each comprising a loop formed in one of said reinforcement members, said tongues extending from edges of said slabs near their corners, there being recesses provided centrally in edges of said slabs to receive said tongues of certain adjacent slabs. t

23. A combination as in claim 22 in which said recesses are of such length as to permit a suitable degree of longitudinal adjustment between adjacent slabs, a tongue of one of which extends into a recess-of the other.

24. In a composite wall construction, combination of: two acings ofslabs, said iacings being erected in spaced relation to each other; and tie members, each of which comprises two end parts and a connecting element, said end parts being adapted to be assembled upon said connecting element and the tie member set in place with the end parts lying between adjacent slabs in opposite fac ings and engaging said facings so as to hold them in spaced relation, said connecting elements having a recess therein on one side thereof, said tie members. installed in said walls in alignment with each othervbeing alternately reversed to retain a reinforcing member in place.

25. In a composite wall construction, the combination of: a plurality of rectangular slabs; tongues cast within said slabs and protruding rom end portions of each of the longitudinal `edges thereof, there being tongue receiving recesses formed in said edges between said tongues, said slabs being assembled edge to edge in breakjoint relation to Jform two spaced wall facings, tongues of each slab being received into recesses of adjacent slabs; and cross tie means connecting said tongues in one of said facings with oppositely disposed tongues in the other of said facings. 4

26. A combination as in claim 25 in which said cross tie means has deformations which serve to space adjacent slab edges a predetermined distance.

27 A combination .as in claim 25 in which said cross tie means is provided with means relation, there being recesses formed'in opposite longitudinal edges'oi said slabs, said recesses being located substantially intermediate the ends of said edges; andV tongues cast into said slabs so as to protrude therefrom at the ends of said edges and adapted to project into said recesses of other slabs to align said slabs witheach other; tie members engaging tongues in opposite facings, at points therein opposite each other, for holding said facings in said facings, said body of concrete having vertical air spaces formed therein thus divid-V ingb said body into thinportions joined by we s.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 24th day of February, 1927.

Y ERNEST H. LOCKWOOD.

the

fixed spaced relation; and Y Y a body of concrete cast in the space between for holding major wall reinforcing rods 1n y position.

28. In a building construction, the combination of: two :tacings of slabs `formed by erecting said slabs edge to edge, in break] oint 

